Should Toddlers Get a Flu Shot?
It is that time of year again and the debate over whether or not people should get flu vaccines still rages. All parents want to protect their children from the flu but it is not always easy to decide just how to best protect them. There are pros and cons, with some being adamantly against flu vaccines for toddlers, and there are those who are just as adamantly for vaccinating their toddlers against the flu. In this article, we are going to look at the pros and cons of this issue.
Pros
Both the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Pediatric Association recommend flu vaccines for every child over the age of six months. The CDC acknowledges that the vaccine does contain a trace amount of mercury, but that the amount is not enough to affect anyone who gets the vaccine. The CDC claims that the risks of severe cases of the flu are much higher in toddlers two years old and younger, so it is very important for parents to immunize their toddlers.
Also, the CDC has stated that this year's flu vaccine does not contain the virus or eggs and that even in those vaccines that contain some of the virus, the virus is dead. In other words, it is not an active virus and will not make anyone sick with the flu. A slight fever and some redness and swelling at the vaccination site can be expected.
Cons
The opponents of the flu vaccine hold that the vaccine contains active flu virus that can make a person sick and it also contains mercury, along with other ingredients that are harmful to humans. They claim that the best way to prevent the flu is to eat a better diet and do more natural things to prevent the virus. Opponents claim that studies have proven that the flu vaccine contributes to the onset of Alzheimer's disease and it also can cause neurological damage to those who receive it. Many are afraid of the vaccine, not only because of the trace amount of mercury it contains, but also because of another ingredient, which is formaldehyde. These individuals believe that there is a higher risk associated with taking the vaccine than there is of eating healthy and refusing to take the vaccine. They opt for not taking the vaccine, choosing to protect themselves by living a healthier lifestyle.
Conclusion
We are all faced with the issues at hand. Do we take the flu vaccine, or do we leave it up to Mother Nature? The best way to solve the issue for yourself and your family is by researching both sides of the issue yourself. Whether or not to get the vaccine is a very important decision for you and for your family. One suggestion is to make a list of pros and cons as you research the issue so that you can review your notes, weighing the issues before you make your choice.